Does spirometry treat bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis involves widened, damaged airways that can collect mucus and lead to a long-lasting cough or repeated chest infections. Spirometry measures the amount and speed of air you can blow out. It can show airflow limitation, but it cannot clear mucus, repair airway changes or identify every cause of symptoms. A clinician interprets it with your history, examination and chest imaging.

Treatment may involve airway-clearance techniques, inhaled medicines in selected situations, antibiotics for infections and an individual follow-up plan. The linked condition and test pages explain these topics further.

Bring a list of inhalers and other medicines, and describe your usual cough, sputum colour and breathlessness. Ask whether any medicine should be paused before testing; do not stop it independently. Practise the breathing instructions given by the technician and mention chest pain, dizziness or a recent infection. Continue your airway-clearance routine and prescribed treatment unless your respiratory team gives different instructions.

Contact your care team promptly for more breathlessness than usual, fever, a marked change in sputum colour or amount, or coughing that is worsening. Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, coughing up a large amount of blood, blue or grey lips, confusion or collapse. A lung-function test should not delay assessment of these warning signs.

Why do you recommend spirometry for me? Do my results change my airway-clearance plan? What symptoms suggest an infection needing treatment?